Skirt marker



Patented May 19, 1925.

rarer orr cr.

LE'II-IA B. SMITH, or PORTLAND, OREGON.

SKIRT MARKER.

Application filed December 19,1921. Serial No. 523,487.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L-LETHA B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Portland, in the county of Multnoinah, in the State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirt hflarkers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to devices for controllably directing by a current of air' a stream of powdered chalk or the like, so as to produce a visiblemark upon a skirt or other garment while depending from the person of a wearer, in order t indicate thereon, preferably in a narrow, uniform, horizontal hue, measurement, from above the level of a floor or base on which the wearer stands, of the length of the garment.

In devices of the general description aforesaid, a serious obstacle has been encountered in practice, namely, in respect to the use of a powder as a marking medium. It has been found hitherto impracticable to effect discharge of the powder with certainty in that even uniformity of flow that is necessary to the successful operation of the apparatus. The same cause which interrupts the uniformity-of flow of the powder,

to wit-,the tendency of the powder to pack and choke the machine, tends to cut off the discharge altogether.

By my invention not only is an exceedingly simple, economical, and effective apparatus produced, but also provision is made therein for insuring uniformity of powder discharge therefrom, and for eliminating the choking of the machine while in use by packing or congestion of the powder at any point along its line of travel.

Moreover, by my invention provision is made for facilitating the cleaning of the powder-discharge conduit, and for freeing it of any particles of dust that might possibly stick therein after a period of disuse.

\Vhat constitutes my invention will be I tube being broken away in order to acconr illustration to the size of the modate th sheet.

Figure IT is atop plan view of the subject matter of Figure I with the air supply bulb omitted.

Referring to the numerals on the drawing, 1 indicates a pedestal of any suitable weight, material, and dimensions, and 2 an upright rod orstandard supported thereby. The pedestal may be placed in any convenient position desired upon a floor or other supporting base upon' which a person may stand while my marker is being employed in use. The standard 2 is preferably provided with graduation marks indicative of variations in elevation above the level of the bottom of the pedestal.

Secured with longitudinal adjustability to the standard, is a downwardly opening receptacle cover 3, provided preferably with a depending annular flange 4. The cover 3 is, for the purpose of adjustable connection with the standard, preferably provided with a loop 5 whose opposed'sides are ap'ertured for the sliding accommodation within them of the standard. An abutment screw 6, working to and from the standard 2 in a threaded aperture fitted to it in the back 7 of the loop 5, affords a simple and conveni- Fitting snugly but separably within the flange 4i is the open end of a receptacle or bowl 9. -Means for uniting the bowl 9 to the cover 111 an air-tight'joint are provided,

constisting preferably of stud pins pro jecting from the outside of the bowl in-dia-' v metrically opposite directions, and taking into corresponding inclined slots 11 inthe flange The function of said slots is, in effect, that of a. screw thread adapted to force the upper edge of the bowl into close contact with the under side of the cover 3,

and to hold it there.

Communicating with the interior of the upper part of the bowl 9, is a discharge mouthpiece 12, having athin, fiat,'horizontal opening as indicated by dotted lines in FigureI. The mouthpiece 12 is preferably located diametrically opposite the loop 5.

At a point, preferably between said mouthpiece and loop and beyond the center of the cover'3, is located a nipple 15 carried by said cover, and to it is fastened one end of a flexible or rubber tube 16, whose other end is in operative communication with a marking medium in the form of a pulverulent powder. Enough may be used at one time, depending, of course, on the capacity of the bowl, to mark a number of garments, but the quantity of powder used for a charge must be restricted so as to leave ample air space within the bowl below the cover 3.

After the bowl is properly charged and fastened to the cover 3, discharge of the powder through the mouthpiece 12 is offected by pressure between the thumb and linger of the bulb 17. Such pressure communicates a jet or pull of air through the nipple 15 into the interior of the bowl against the pulverulent mass of powder in the bottom thereof with the effect of lifting a portion thereof into the air space in the bowl above it thereby loading the atmosphere of the bowl with powder in suspensiononly. By the same operation compres sion of the air confined by the cover within the bowl is effected, and the powder-laden air seeks exit through the mouthpiece and upon discharge therefrom performs the marking function required of it.

It may be observed that the disposition of the mouthpiece 12 and nipple 15 relatively to the cover 3 facilitates the operation described by tending to insure discharge of the contents of the bowl in pulverous form. Repeated ejections of air or putl's from the bulb will sufiice in time to exhaust the contents of the bowl 9, which may be con veniently removed, replenished and restored to place as often as need be.

The only part of the apparatus that may ever need cleaning for operative purposes, is the interior of the mouthpiece 12 which is at all times open to direct easy access.

It is obvious that the tube 16 may be made of any length desired, and that thereby the operation of the bulb 17 may be brought under control of a person wearing a garment orof an attendant for the marking by either the one or the other, as preferred.

W hat I claim is! 1. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a closed receptacle having a discharge mouthpiece, of means for loading the atn'iosphere within the receptacle with powder in suspension only, and for e]ecting said powder-laden atmosphere through the mouthpiece.

forcible air discharge through said top, a

bowl suspended below said top in closed connection therewith, and a discl'iarge mouthpiece carried by said bowl and operatively disposed above the bottom thereof.

l. The combination with a standard, and its support, of a receptacle top vertically adjustable upon the standard, a depending an nular flange upon said top, a bowl fitting said flange and provided with a discharge mouthpiece disposed above the bottom there of, means of forcible air discharge into the bowl against'the bottom thereof, and complementary members on the bowl and top for uniting the bowl to the top with relative compression eifcct of one against the other.

5. The combination with a standard, and its support, of a receptacle top \i'ertically ad justable upon the stamlard, a depending annular flange upon said top, a bowl fitting said flz'mge and provided with a discharge mouthpiece disposed above the bottom thereof, means of forcible air discharge into the bowl against the bottom thereof, and complementary members on the bowl and top for uniting the bowl to the top with relative compression effect of one against the other,

said complementary members consisting of inclined slots and stud pins adaptedoperatively to engage the same.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LETHA B. SMITH.

lVitnesses i John 15. CLELAND,

SARAH Z. Runs. 

